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Technical & Reference Section => Tech and Restoration => Topic started by: punkdSICO on May 11, 2011, 08:49 PM

Title: Brake Levers - recommendations
Post by: punkdSICO on May 11, 2011, 08:49 PM: Hi all. My bike currrently has some Dia Compe 283 levers. Question: are these new school? I believe they are as you can buy them online.

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2199/5710549667_b36680a23b.jpg)

Anyway, Im strickly a one finger braker so I want the end of the lever (where u get most leverage) to end where my index finger is. As you can see, not the case. So, "move the lever" I hear you say, but, the further down the bar I move the lever, the closer it gets to my hand, to the point where it touches and you cant squeeze the lever cause your fingers get squashed.

This is common with all bars like mine:

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2134/5699823247_6892e48651.jpg)

Ideally, I want it to be positioned like this carefully CAD designed ;) custom lever (probably ever further to the left than shown):

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2244/5710549729_6086e7219f.jpg)

So, any recommendations of levers for this common bar shape? Maybe a Dirty Harry lever (in black/white)?

http://www.sourcebmx.com/product/components/bmx-brake-levers/diacompe-dirty-harry-lever/1419.shtml (http://www.sourcebmx.com/product/components/bmx-brake-levers/diacompe-dirty-harry-lever/1419.shtml)

Finally, I would lover to keep my bike era-correct but, does it matter when it comes to levers that actually work with the bars?

thanks,

Paul
Title: Re: Brake Levers - recommendations
Post by: Swivel on May 11, 2011, 08:52 PM: 283 are old school, I had some on my bike BITD, plenty about and cheap too. If you want smaller, get tech4 brake levers ;)
Title: Re: Brake Levers - recommendations
Post by: brettypeeps on May 11, 2011, 08:53 PM: The levers are Tech 5s and are era correct. If you not into them I would put tech 4s on there :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Brake Levers - recommendations
Post by: punkdSICO on May 11, 2011, 09:03 PM: ta - I just googled the tech 4 levers and yeah, they are short and more angled but they still dont look like they will give me that one fingered power. Maybe ill just get one and try it..

Would it be so bad to put on new-school levers? The Dirty Harry ones look seriously angled..

ta,

Paul
Title: Re: Brake Levers - recommendations
Post by: Retrodan72 on May 11, 2011, 09:15 PM: Quote from: punkdSICO on May 11, 2011, 09:03 PM
ta - I just googled the tech 4 levers and yeah, they are short and more angled but they still dont look like they will give me that one fingered power. Maybe ill just get one and try it..

Would it be so bad to put on new-school levers? The Dirty Harry ones look seriously angled..

ta,

Paul
I say it's bad to mix 'schools' but it's your bike and you can do as you like with it mate.
Title: Re: Brake Levers - recommendations
Post by: TwoBobRob on May 11, 2011, 09:27 PM: Fcuk it. If you're riding the thing then fit what works. Have a look at the Odyssey Monolever small version. That's a wee diddy one finger job.
Title: Re: Brake Levers - recommendations
Post by: TwoBobRob on May 11, 2011, 09:36 PM: We're talking about the same lever big fella!

The Mono Medium feels very much like a Tech77 (to me anyways), and the Small is a proper one fingered affair.
Title: Re: Brake Levers - recommendations
Post by: Dark Diggler on May 11, 2011, 09:40 PM: Blowtorch and a ringspanner and use what ya got :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Brake Levers - recommendations
Post by: TwoBobRob on May 12, 2011, 06:23 PM: Quote from: Glen on May 11, 2011, 09:38 PM
yes mate I know, I was agreeing! I run a medium and love it. Used to run tech77s for ever but this one is perfect 8)

Great minds. We are the bollocks :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Brake Levers - recommendations
Post by: gary4130 on May 13, 2011, 12:03 AM: Quote from: Dark Diggler on May 11, 2011, 09:40 PM
Blowtorch and a ringspanner and use what ya got :daumenhoch:

yeah just bend 'em out do it with all mine ;) work fine after